Gillian Loney

Work has begun on the southside’s latest educational and tourist attraction, with Glasgow’s lord provost Sadie Docherty joining First World War re-enactors at Pollok Park for the first phase of Digging In.

The WWI trench reconstruction is underway, aiming to capture the environments of the allied and German trenches as authentically as possible, to offer both children and adults an interactive educational experiecnce.

The reconstruction is informed by research from soldiers’ diaries, archeological excavations across the Western Front and field manuals on trench construction and maintenance.

Lord provost Docherty told The Extra: “Digging In is daring, and I’m sure it will prove a huge hit with everyone who visits.

“It will be a fantastic experience for our young people to come and learn more about the trenches, and what life would have been like in them 100 years ago.

“I’m looking forward to coming back and seeing it completed — we’re at the mercy of the elements, but I think that only adds to the feel of the trenches, and what it was like in that cold and damp environment.”

The Linn councillor added: “There will certainly be an element of bringing more people to the southside of the city. Pollok Park is a very well used resource anyway, but I hope it will increase visitor numbers even further.”

The lord provost was joined by project partners Dr Tony Pollard, director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow and Dr Olivia LeLong of Northlight Heritage, as well as members of the Glasgow Uni Officer Training Corps.

The project has been awarded a grand of more than £99,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and is due for completion by next month.

Digging In will be open to the public for Glasgow’s Doors Open Days (running September 14-20) on Sep 19.